Opinions on the greatest moments in old ballparks

[Paladin Cecil]

I've finished making my video narratives of the greatest moments in baseball's current ballparks prior to 2009 (except for Nationals Park. I want to wait for something to happen that's more historic than Cristian Guzman's cycle).

I want to start doing some video narratives on the greatest moments in the ballparks of the past, and while I do have some ideas for many of them, there are some that I've had trouble deciding on. I did some research on the histories of these parks and with some of them, it's still hard to find a memorable moment good enough to consider its greatest moment (and some are just hard to decide).

 

Here are the ballparks I've had a hard time deciding on. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to share them.

 

Memorial Stadium (I've been thinking of doing game 7 of the '71 World Series)

Municipal Stadium (was thinking of the '54 All-Star Game)

Tiger Stadium

Griffith Stadium (was thinking of the '56 All-Star Game)

Shibe Park

Braves Field

Crosley Field

Ebbets Field

Milwaukee County Stadium

Baker Bowl

Sportsman's Park

 

The ones I have decisions for are for:

Huntington Avenue Grounds: 1903 World Series game 8

Old Comiskey Park: 1933 All-Star Game

Metropolitan Stadium: 1965 World Series game 7

The Kingdome: 1995 A.L.D.S. game 5

Arlington Stadium: Nolan Ryan's 7th

Exhibition Stadium: Phil Niekro's 300th

Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium: Hank Aaron's 715th

Mile High Stadium: 1993 home opener

Colt Stadium: Don Nottebart's no-hitter

The Astrodome: 1986 N.L.C.S. game 6

Forbes Field: 1960 World Series game 7

Polo Grounds: The Shot Heard Round the World

Candlestick Park: 1962 World Series game 7

R.F.K. Stadium: 2005 home opener

[Andy]

Baker Bowl was the home run haven of the dead-ball era, wasn't it? I'm sure there's something there.

 

The obvious answer for County Stadium is the Jake Taylor walk-off bunt single to win the AL East playoff over the Yankees.

[CubbieBum]

Baker Bowl was the home run haven of the dead-ball era, wasn't it? I'm sure there's something there.

 

The obvious answer for County Stadium is the Jake Taylor walk-off bunt single to win the AL East playoff over the Yankees.

 

Did they win the whole damn thing that year?

[Tarver]

They lost to the Cards.

 

Sportsman's Park had all those powerhouse Cards' teams, a one-armed man in the WS for the Browns, and Eddie Gaedel. Lot's to choose from.

[mjohnson71]

They lost to the Cards.

 

Sportsman's Park had all those powerhouse Cards' teams, a one-armed man in the WS for the Browns, and Eddie Gaedel. Lot's to choose from.

 

Didn't Babe Ruth break a window at a car dealership across from Sportsman's Park twice in one week versus the Browns?

[biittner77]

Was Willie Mays over the shoulder catch at Ebbots Field?

[Andy]

Was Willie Mays over the shoulder catch at Ebbots Field?

Polo Grounds.

[NCCubFan]

Was Willie Mays over the shoulder catch at Ebbots Field?

Polo Grounds.

During the 1954 World Series against the Indians.

[Clem Fandango]

Baker Bowl was the home run haven of the dead-ball era, wasn't it? I'm sure there's something there.

 

The obvious answer for County Stadium is the Jake Taylor walk-off bunt single to win the AL East playoff over the Yankees.

 

Did they win the whole damn thing that year?

 

No. Nobody ever wins the world series in fictional baseball movies. They just make it to the playoffs. Or make it to the world series. Or do something spectacular. But teams never ever ever win the world series

[Paladin Cecil]

The Cubs did in Rookie of the Year.

[Outshined_One]

Was Willie Mays over the shoulder catch at Ebbots Field?

Polo Grounds.

During the 1954 World Series against the Indians.

 

With runners on first and second during a tie game, preserving the tie and allowing the Giants to win Game 1 of that year's World Series in extra innings.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Was Willie Mays over the shoulder catch at Ebbots Field?

Polo Grounds.

During the 1954 World Series against the Indians.

 

With runners on first and second during a tie game, preserving the tie and allowing the Giants to win Game 1 of that year's World Series in extra innings.

 

The batter was Vic Wertz. (That stadium in Brooklyn where all of this didn't take place was named Ebbets Field.)

[AlwaysaCub]

Tiger Stadium - possibly game 7 1968, also Kirk Gibson's homer in 1984 WS game ? to clinch it.

 

Ebbet's Field - it would be intolerable to do anything besides Jackie Robinson's debut.

 

Shibe Park - 1929 WS game 4. Connie Mack's boys put up a 10-spot in the bottom of the 7th as the %@)#% Cubs blow an 8 run lead.

[Outshined_One]

For Milwaukee County Stadium...

 

Link

 

Hank Aaron hit a walkoff two run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals to win the NL Pennant.

[OleMissCub]

Tiger Stadium - Mickey Mantle's last few games as a pro. Denny McClain, as a sign of respect, purposely grooves one down the middle of the plate and Mickey hits one out, passing Jimmie Foxx. It was his second to last home run.

[Paladin Cecil]

I've come up with a few more ideas for the older ballparks.

 

For Memorial Stadium, I've decided to do either game 4 of the '64 World Series or game 7 of the '71 World Series.

For Southside Park, I was thinking game 6 of the 1906 World Series.

For League Park, probably game 7 of the '20 World Series.

For Municipal Stadium, I'm still thinking the '54 All-Star Game.

For Bennett Park, I was thinking game 5 of the 1907 World Series.

For Tiger Stadium, I'm thinking game 6 of the '35 World Series., Ty Cobb's 4,000th or the 1941 All-Star Game.

For Griffith Stadium, I'm thinking game 7 of the '24 World Series.

Municipal Stadium 1: Early Wynn's 300th.

Game 4 of the '28 World Series sounds like a good Shibe Park moment.

For Braves Field, maybe game 6 of the '48 World Series.

For Westside Ground, I was thinking game 1 of the 1906 World Series.

For Crosley Field, I'm thinking game 7 of the '40 World Series.

For Ebbets Field, Jackie Robinson's first game sounds like a good choice.

For the LA Coliseum, I was thinking game 3 of the '59 World Series.

For Milwaukee County Stadium, Hank Aaron's pennant-clinching home run is definitely a good choice. I was thinking of choosing that or game 4 of the '57 World Series.

For Baker Bowl, maybe game 2 or game 5 of the 1915 World Series.

For Sportsmans Park, I was thinking game 7 of the '46 World Series.

For Jarry Park, Bill Stoneman's 2nd.

Edited May 16, 2009 by Paladin Cecil

[TruffleShuffle]

Denny McClain, as a sign of respect, purposely grooves one down the middle of the plate and Mickey hits one out, passing Jimmie Foxx.

 

or perhaps because he had money on the game.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fulton County stadium has to be that time the chick in the skirt mounted her boyfriend and it was caught on camera. That was great. It was Fulton County, right?

[Tarver]

Fulton County stadium has to be that time the chick in the skirt mounted her boyfriend and it was caught on camera. That was great. It was Fulton County, right?

 

Never heard of that one. I thought it was the SkyDome.

[Paladin Cecil]

I've made my choices on most of the ballparks, but I'm still deciding on Tiger Stadium, Braves Field and Milwaukee County Stadium.

For Tiger Stadium, I'm having trouble deciding on Ty Cobb's 4,000th, game 6 of the 1935 World Series or the 1941 All-Star Game (I'm leaning towards the latter).

For Braves Field, I'm having trouble deciding on Paul Waner's 3,000th or game 6 of the 1948 World Series.

For Milwaukee County Stadium, I'm thinking of doing game 4 of the 1957 World Series or Warren Spahn's 300th (I'm leaning toward the latter).

[OleMissCub]

Paladin, you'd probably get a lot more responses if you posted this in the History of the Game section of Baseball-Fever.com. I'd suggest that you register over there and post it. There are some serious baseball historians over there who'd really be interested in your project.

[Paladin Cecil]

I didn't know about that site. It sounds awesome.

Thanks for informing me on it. I'll definitely join.

[Paladin Cecil]

Does anyone here go to the Baseball Fever forum or know anyone else who goes there?

I registered for the forum, but I'm unable to post messages. When I registered, I got an e-mail notification saying I needed to click on a link to have my account activated. I clicked on it and it said I was approved of, but then when I tried to post messages, I kept getting an error message saying that I do not have permission to access the page (I also e-mailed the webmaster about it, but my message bounced).

So if anyone here goes to the forum and/or knows any of the mods there, could you let them know about this? Thanks.

I registered under the name Paladin Cecil.

[OleMissCub]

I'll look into it for you right away

[OleMissCub]

Paladin, I talked to a mod and he said to either keep trying to post or trying to contact the webmaster or just re-register with a different name and try it then.